SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Ten individuals filed a lawsuit this week against the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau claiming they were sexually abused by church employees and the diocese mishandled their cases.

The plaintiffs say they were sexually abused at different times between 1968 and 1998 at church locations throughout southwest Missouri, including Springfield, Kimberling City and West Plains.

The lawsuit, which names the diocese and current Bishop Edward Rice as defendants, accuses church leaders of covering up and enabling the abuse.

The 44-page lawsuit says over the years the diocese knew some of its employees were sexually abusing children and responded by transferring the perpetrators to different locations within the diocese or sending them away for “treatment” and then bringing them back.

In September 2018, the lawsuit says the diocese promised to publish the names of clergy members who had been credibly accused of sexually abusing children. Five months later, in April of 2019, the diocese released a list of 16 priests whose abuse claims had been substantiated.

The allegations in the lawsuit include children as young as 5 years old being subjected to sexual abuse.

Reached by phone on Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the diocese declined to comment, saying they had not yet been served with the lawsuit.

A court date has not yet been scheduled.

News Source : https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/diocese-of-springfield-cape-girardeau-accused-of-covering-up-child-sexual-abuse/